San Antonio Woman Sentenced for Pointing Laser at Helicopter

SAN ANTONIO, TX — A San Antonio woman was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison today for pointing a laser at a police helicopter.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Texas, Sandra Roberson, 60, used a laser to repeatedly target a San Antonio Police Department helicopter on November 3, 2023. The laser forced the helicopter to divert from its response to a shooting investigation and put the crew and people on the ground at risk.

Roberson was arrested on January 30, 2024, and pleaded guilty to the charges in September. The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case.

“Shooting lasers at aircraft is incredibly dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “This type of illegal behavior risks the lives of pilots and increases the chances of a crash.”

Aiming lasers at aircraft is a federal crime due to its danger to flight safety.